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Goodbye for now, Cy-Fair Insiders

The start of each year is usually all about new beginnings but the Cy-Fair Insider this week will be about closing chapters. This is edition will be the last Cy-Fair Insider newsletter.

When I first started writing this newsletter, I was excited about the opportunity to tell local stories about the Cy-Fair community. I'm fortunate enough to say that I've done that.

Although I'm from St, Louis, Missouri, at times, it felt like Cy-Fair was home to me. I was able to cover everything from intense Cy-Fair ISD school board meetings to your favorite business openings.

Thank you for helping me learn more about Cy-Fair, and as always, thank you for reading the Cy-Fair Insider!

P.S. If you enjoyed the Cy-Fair Insider, please check out the Houston Chronicle's other newsletter offerings. You should check out our flagship newsletter The 713, which will keep you up to date on everything happening in Houston.

Ralph Green, Suburban reporter producer

raphael.green@houstonchronicle.com

CALIFORNIA WILDFIRE: Houston rapper Fat Tony's home burns down in California wildfire as flames rage in Los Angeles.

WHAT IS NOROVIRUS?: A UTHealth Houston expert explains what it is and how it could be prevented.

CANCELED FLIGHTS: Some flights from Dallas to Houston were delayed or canceled due to the winter storm in north Texas.

$5 POPCORN: Cinemark is offering a "Bring Your Own Bucket" deal to celebrate National Popcorn Day in late January.

HOUSTON AIRPORT: What were TSA's top finds of 2024? Meanwhile, a handgun was found in a baby stroller at one Houston airport.

Openings and closings

A popular Cypress restaurant will be opening a new location soon at 6166 Hwy 6 North.

Brisket and Rice, which is located at a Phillips 66 gas station on FM 529, serves up backyard plates with brisket, pork ribs and house-made sausage.

The eatery has appeared on several top national food rankings including lists from the Chronicle's barbecue guide and Michelin's Texas restaurant guide.

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CORRECTED: Watch these Houstonians in the NFL playoffs

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January 9, 2025

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Houston area has plenty of representation in the NFL playoffs this weekend

Correction: An earlier version of the High School Sports newsletter included content from Monday's edition.

Happy Friday!

Football fans across the country are in for a treat this week with the college football semifinals and the NFL playoffs in full swing. Here is a look at some of the Houston-area players to watch for Saturday and Sunday when the pros kick things off.

🏈 Texans vs. Chargers

This game will be a homecoming for Chargers left tackle Rashawn Slater, who graduated from Clements High School. Slater, a former first-round pick out of Northwestern, is now a two-time Pro Bowler after earning his second selection this season. The Texans, meanwhile, are rich with local players, including defensive ends Danielle Hunter (Morton Ranch) and Jerry Hughes (Fort Bend Austin) and guard Kenyon Green (Atascocita).

🏈 Ravens vs. Steelers

A couple of reserve offensive lineman fittingly highlight the Houston area in this clash between bitter AFC North rivals. Steelers center Ryan McCollum played for Klein and Texas A&M, while Ravens guard Josh Jones got his start at Fort Bend Bush and the University of Houston.

🏈 Bills vs. Broncos

Former Westfield and UH standout Ed Oliver leads the way for this matchup. Oliver, a former first-round pick, will be joined on the Buffalo defense by linebacker and La Porte grad Terrel Bernard. The Broncos do not have any Houston-area players, unless you want to make a stretch to Brenham High School and claim receiver Courtland Sutton.

🏈 Eagles vs. Packers

QB1 for the Eagles was once QB1 for Channelview. Jalen Hurts is the Houston-area guy to watch in this one, which should not be too hard considering he will have the ball in his hands every offensive play for Philadelphia. Hurts has been working through concussion protocol, but optimism is high that he will return to the lineup this week. Punter Braden Mann (Cy-Fair), safety Trisin McCollum (Galveston Ball) and defensive tackle Moro Ojomo (Katy) are also on the roster.

🏈 Commanders vs. Buccaneers

Commanders guard Sam Cosmi (Atascocita) has enjoyed a strong season with his resurgent team after signing a four-year extension in the offseason. Dorance Armstrong (North Shore) is also on the Washington roster. The Buccaneers, meanwhile, have a strong Houston-area precense with five-time Pro Bowl receiver Mike Evans (Galveston Ball), 2023 All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (The Woodlands), safety Zyon McCollum (Galveston Ball), quarterback Kyle Trask (Manvel) and kicker Chase McLaughlin (Cypress Woods).

🏈 Vikings vs. Rams

Vikings reserve cornerback Dwight McGlothern (Klein Oak) is the only Houston-area representative in this game.

✅ Be sure to follow me on X at @JonPoorman for all the latest news. Follow our high school sports account at @HoustonChronHS.

Follow all our coverage at houstonchronicle.com/highschoolsports.

Jon Poorman, High School Sports Editor

jpoorman@houstonchronicle.com

Athlete of the Week

🏆 Congratulations to La Porte basketball player Cody Miller, who was voted Boys Athlete of the Week. Read more about his accomplishments here.

🏆 Congratulations to Klein Oak basketball player Clarah Obenofunde, who was voted Girls Athlete of the Week. Read more about her accomplishments here.

🔄 Check out the Monday newsletter for a new set of polls.

📩 Nominations can be sent to jpoorman@houstonchronicle.com

Shout out

🏀 Coaching milestone

Seven Lakes boys basketball coach Shannon Heston secured his 250th career coaching victory with a 68-66 triumph over Cinco Ranch on Tuesday. His Spartans are currently 22-5 overall and 6-2 in District 19-6A action, second behind 7-0 Jordan. Seven Lakes was ranked No. 17 in the state in Class 6A by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches this week.

Stat of the day

🏀 26.9: The average number of points scored per game by Alief Taylor star Nataliyah Gray. Gray currently ranks fourth in the state in that categorey, at least among the teams who enter stats in MaxPreps. She is also averaging 13.8 rebounds, 2.9 blocks, 2.4 steals and 2.1 assists per outing.

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LA wildfires latest: Death toll expected to rise as fires rage through Los Angeles

Los Angeles County wildfires latest: Death toll expected to rise as fires rage through Los Angeles – Firefighters battled early Thursday to control a series of major fires in the Los Angeles area that have killed five people, ravaged communities from the Pacific Coast to Pasadena and sent thousands of people frantically fleeing their homes. Ferocious winds that drove the flames and led to chaotic evacuations have calmed somewhat and were not expected to be as powerful during the day. That could allow firefighters to make progress reining in blazes that have hopscotched across the sprawling region, including massive ones in Pacific Palisades and Altadena. Here are the latest updates.

Will the Los Angeles fires impact California's home insurance market? – The fires raging in the Los Angeles area have many people asking what impact it could have on California’s home insurance market. That’s because – in recent years – most of the state’s biggest property insurers have paused or limited business in California, citing the rising risk of wildfires, high cost of rebuilding homes and state regulations. But will these fires in Los Angeles make insurance even more unavailable and unaffordable? Here's a closer look.

Yes, Los Angeles cut $17.6 million from the fire department’s budget – As the wildfires burned, multiple social media posts claimed Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass cut fire department funding by $17.6 million, months before the fires broke out. Records show that the City of Los Angeles decreased the Los Angeles Fire Department’s funding by nearly $17.6 million this fiscal year. However, that’s roughly a 2% decrease from the previous year’s budget. In June 2024, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass signed the City of Los Angeles’ budget for the 2024-2025 fiscal year.

No, Los Angeles didn’t refuse to fill water reservoirs prior to fires – Social media posts, including one viewed more than 5 million times, claim that fire hydrants ran out of water because the city and/or county “REFUSED to refill reservoirs.” Los Angeles filled its water tanks earlier this week, prior to the start of the current wildfire outbreak. Fire hydrants used by firefighters ran out of water because of high water demand that is outpacing the speed at which water service officials can replenish the tanks.

GO-GO SACRAMENTO

Brennan Marion comes to Sacramento State after two successful seasons at University of Nevada, Las Vegas, (UNLV) where he implemented his famous "Go-Go Offense."

WEATHER FORECAST

This time of year can be a time of increased stress for those struggling with opioid or stimulant use disorder.

It can also be a time for pause, reflection, opportunity, and new beginnings. They’re a chance to take stock of what we have and are thankful for, to remember what’s most important to us, and to consider what we can change. The new year can be a time of hope.

This new year, choose treatment and recovery, embrace the support and company of family and friends, and create special moments. Get started by finding a proven opioid or stimulant addiction treatment provider near you at ChooseChangeCA.org

Sponsored by Department of Health Care Services.

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